USA > Ohio > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 9
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David Webner was born March 13, 1831, and when of a suitable age was ap- prenticed to a tailor named Reed, in Churchtown, Penn., to learn the trade. He continued to work in that place until 1852, when he immigrated to Ohio, com- ing direct to Smithville, Wayne County. Here he worked at his trade, for Mr. William Peters and E. H. Gilbert, until his marriage, when he removed to Knox County, Ohio, where he opened a shop, also carrying on a ready-made clothing store. He stayed there but two years, however, preferring Smithville as a place of residence, and he returned, and opened a shop in the latter place, where for many Mr. Webner at fourteen years of age embraced religion, and united with the Church of God, in Cumberland County, Penn., November 19, 1849, and lived a pious, Christian life. He took a great in- terest in Sabbath-school work, and was active in that cause, and for more than twenty years had been an ardent laborer in that part of his Master's vineyard, most of the time being superintendent. years he worked assiduously at his trade, in fact working at it more or less until his death. During this time he estab- lished the first hack line to the station of the Fort Wayne Railroad. He began by carrying the mail to and from the depot on foot, principally for exercise, and from this grew up the back line, which he carried on until his death. He was also the first ticket agent of the road at | He was much esteemed for his sterling
Smithville Station. He died November 16, 1873, the inmediato cause of his death being neuralgia of the heart. The first starting point of the disease, which finally caused hisdeath, was a cold caught while hurrying to catch a train with the mail, he having been delayed at the post- office beyond the usual time. This brought on typhoid fever and inflamma- tory rheumatism, from which he never recovered. During the Civil War Mr. Webner was a member of the Home Guards, and in 1864, though ill at the' time, was ordered into eamp at Cleveland. His friends, knowing his unfitness for duty, tried to have him excused, but to no purpose. The exposure of camp life aggravated his disease, and he was sent home in charge of a comrade, being un- fit to travel alone. Although he lingered for several years, he never recovered his health from that time-but grew steadily worse until the end.
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integrity of character, and made his worth felt in deeds of kindness, leaving an unfading record of good works, and bequeathing to his children the priceless heritage of a good name. His death was severely felt by his widow and children, who, however, do not mourn as those without hope, knowing the good man, the faithful husband and loving father has but gone before.
On October 23, 1854, David Webner was married, in Cedar Valley, Chester Township, Wayne County, to Miss C. E. Walton, a native of that place, born August 2, 1834. Her parents were Boaz and Mary Ann ( Parker) Walton, the former born in Northampton County, Penn., January 1, 1798, and the latter in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 22, 1802, and is now living in the old home in Cedar Valley, and notwithstanding her advanced age is in excellent health and in the possession of all of her faculties. Mr. Walton came with his parents to Ohio when but six years old, and in 1830 he located in Cedar Valley. He and his wife Mary Ann had nine children, three of whom died at birth, and one, Lucinda, who was the wife of Enos Edmonds, died near Winterset, Jowa. The survivors aro Susan, unmarried, living with her mother; Henry, in Michigan; Hiram, in Wayne, and Gideon, in Congress Township, in this county, and C. E., widow of David
Webner. Mr. and Mrs. Webner were the parents of seven children, two of whom died young. Those now living are Helen, an estimable young lady, teacher in the Smithville school; Gilbert, who carries on a meat-market in Smith- ville; Ira Day, Rush and David, with their mother."
Mrs. Webner deserves and has received much eredit for the manner in which she has reared her family. Left with not a great deal of this world's wealth, by un- tiring industry, good management, and the assistance of dutiful and affectionate children, she has maintained a comfort- able home, and given all the children the advantage of a good education. For six years after her husband's death she car- ried on the hack line, giving it with all its appartenances to her eldest son, on his marriage. Her second son is a telegraph operator, an industrious and high-prin- cipled young man, and the family is spoken of by all who know them as one of the most highly respected in Smithville.
JOSEPH A. FUNK, merchant. Of those thoroughly reliable business men engaged in the mercantile pur- suits of life none in the county have obtained a higher standing for honesty
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and integrity than has the subject of this sketch. His father, Jacob M. Funk, was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., in 1792, of German parentage. When six- teen years of age he moved to Westmore- land County, and there for many years followed his trade of blacksmithing. In 1831 he immigrated to Chester Township, Wayne County, where for a short time he continued to follow his trade, and pur- chased 220 neres of land. Jacob M. Funk married Mary Bonnett, daughter of Jacob Bonnett, of Westmoreland County, Penn., and seven children were born to them: Isaac B., John B., Margaret, David.M., Joseph A., Lewis M. and Mary. The mother of these children dying in Penn- ried. Mr. Funk is a Republican.
sylvania, aged twenty-nine years, Jacob M. next married Mary Kessler, who became the mother of two children, Elizabeth and Annie. Jacob M. Funk commenced life poor, but, by industry and persever- ance, at his death was a well-to-do farmer.
Joseph A. Funk was born in West- moreland County, in 1824, and was about eight years of age when his parents came to Wayne County. His education was obtained in the common schools of Ches- ter Township, working on the farm till sixteen years of age. He taught school one term, and then learned the tailor's trade, and for ten years followed that oc- eupation, residing at this time in Mem- phis, Tonn. In 1849 he crossed the plains
to California, and for eighteen months was engaged in gold mining. He then returned to Wayne County, but again went to California, and remained eighteen months. In 1855 he commenced mercan- tile business at Lattasburgh, where he has since remained, with the exception of four years. For thirty years ho was a notary public, receiving his first commission from Gov. Chase, He was township treasurer, and also held other township offices and positions of trust. Mr. Funk was married in 1855 to Margaret Zim- merman, daughter of Henry Zimmerman, of Chester Township, and they have two children, Frances M. and Clara, both mar-
I OASH YODER. About the year 1720 Barbara Yoder, widow, whose husband died at sea on his way from Switzerland to this country, arrived at Philadelphia. Penn., hers being one of the first Amish Mennonite families com- ing to Pennsylvania from the old country, and located somewhere in the eastern part of the Stato, either in Lancaster or Berks County. She was the mother of eight sons and one danghter. Her daughter was married to Christian Byler. Seven of her sons were married and had fami-
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lies. One of her sons, Christian, had eleven children, namely: Jacob, Anna, Christian, John, Fannie, Elizabeth, Bar- bara, Henry, Yost, Joseph and David.
The latter was the grandfather of Joash Yoder, our subject. His first wife was Jacobin Esh, who also came from Switzerland, a maiden, and arrived at Philadelphia about 1780, after a long and perilous passage, being on the ocean over six weeks. She was a good woman, and did not live to a great age. She became the mother of three sons and five daugh- ters, as follows: Daniel, born ( it is thought) in the latter part of 1791; Rebecca, born October 18, 1793, and was married to Jacob Zook; Jonathan, born September 2, 1795, in Berks County, Penn., and was married to Magdalena Wagner, whose father, Zacharias Wagner, was brought to this country from Hessen (or Hesse), Germany, during the Revolutionary War (he died at a ripe age, in Berks County, Penn. ) ; Joseph, born September 13, 1797, and married to Catherine Lantz, of Mif- tlin County, Poun., where he lived many years and taught English and German schools (about 1838 he removed with his family to Juniata County, Penn., and . about 1846 he immigrated to McLean County, Ill., where he went to farming; he died there in February, 1888) ; Mag- dalena was born April 23, 1799, and was married to John Lantz, lived in Mifflin
County, Penu., and died there about 1832; Fanny, born April 11, 1802, was married to Joel Yoder of Coutre County, Pem .; Maria was born April 11, 1804, and was married to John Yoder, of Centre County, Penn .; Leah was born December 8, 1806, and was married to Yost Yoder, of Centre County, Penn., about 1832 (she and her family removed to Juniata County, Penn., about 1849, and from there to MeLean County, Ill .. but more recently to Kansas, where she and her husband now live). David Yoder (grandfather of Joash Yo- der), with his family, removed from Berks County to Mifflin County, Penn., about 1811, and there he bought a large farm. He there met with reverses, his wife died and he became financially involved. His land title not being good, he lost his farm, and died about 1820, insolvent.
Jonathan Yoder, father of Joash, was a man of great physical strength and more than ordinary intelligence. Although he received only a few months' schooling, he was able to read and write both English and German, and, without having studied any of the rules of the arithmetic taught in the subscription schools of those days, he could solve many of the most difficult questions found in the books. He was of generous and peaceful disposition, yet firm in what he considered right. His kind and jovial disposition made him beloved by all with whom he became acquainted.
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When about thirty years old he was called to the ministry of the Amish Mennonite Church, to which he belonged, and in this capacity he served the church until the end of his life, with considerable ability and without salary or compensation. He reared a large family (eleven children) with the labor of his hands, when wages for ordinary laborers was only 50 cents a day. Yet by industry and the prudent and economical management of his wife they lived comfortably, and became pos- sessors of a small home, four miles west of Lewistown, Mifflin Co., Penn. Awhile after he was married he learned the car- penter's trade, and to some extent followed the business of framing barns. About the year 1828, when Joash was ten years of age, his father removed to Half-Moon Township, Centre Co., Penn., and there bought 100 acres of land, a little south of a village called Stormstown, where he lived eight years. Then he removed to Tuscarora Township, Juniata County. Two children died while he lived in Cen- tre County, and nine were married and reared children. They were born as fol- lows: Leah, March 28, 1818; Joash, De- cember 23, 1819; Elias, October 16, 1821; Elizabeth, January 5, 1825; Sarah, De- cember 7, 1826; Amos, December 17, 1828; Jonathan, September 21, 1830; Magdaloun, July 18, 1832 (the two last named died in Centre County) ; Asa,
January 24, . 1835; Catherine, September 10, 1836; Annie, February 7, 1840.
Soon after the last child was born, the oldest of the children began to marry, and the family became gradually larger. About 1846 Elias, the third born, removed to MeLean County, Ill., near Bloomington, the county seat of MeLean County, now a thriving city and railroad center ; had then only a few houses and no railroad at all. Soon after some other members of the family moved to McLean County, and about 1850 Jonathan and his wife followed, taking the remainder of the family with them. There these parents lived until their deaths, and are buried in a cemetery on a farm belonging to Simon Lantz, about two miles east of Carlock Station, on the Lake Erie & Western Railroad.
As before stated, Magdalena Yoder was the daughter of Zacharias Wagner, who came from Hesse, Germany, and located in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. She was born in 1798. When yet quite small she was bound to Christian Schmucker, of Lancaster County, Penn. When she was about fourteen years of age Mr. Schmucker removed to Mifflin County, Penn., and took her with him. She served with him until she was eighteen years of age. She, too, became a mem- ber of the Amish Mennonite Church, and lived and died in the faith of that com- munion. She was a kind and benevolent
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woman, and her chief aim was to rear her children in the love and fear of God. She was very industrious and frugal, and a good helpmate to her husband, and al- ways managed to make things in and around the house look neat and comfort- able. She spun all the cloth the family wore, from shirts to overcoats, and made nearly all the clothes with her own hands. Sewing machines were not then in use, but the children were always clean and well dressed. She was a mother in the true sense of the word.
Joash Yoder was born December 23, 1819, in Derry Township, Mifflin Co., Penn., and remained with his parents, until he was twenty-one years of age, and assisted them in their struggle to rear their family. He did all kinds of work on the farm. Farming then was quite different from what it now is. There were theu no machines to mow the grass or cut the wheat or to do the threshing. Grass was mowed with a scythe, and wheat, rye and oats were ent with a sickle or cradle, and grain threshed with a flail or tramped off the straw with horses. So Mr. Yoder was kept busy summer and winter, and found but little time, after he was big enough to be of any service at. home, to attend school in the log school- honses, which in those localities were few and far between. But, as he was indus- trious at school and studied hard when
out of school, he managed to learn to read and write both English and German, and acquainted himself with some of the higher branches, which he mostly learned without a teacher. When nineteen years of age he commenced teaching school in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer; this he followed for nine or ten years.
In 1841 he was married to Barbara Kaufman, an estimable lady, the daughter of Christian Kaufman, of Bratton Town- ship, Mifflin Co., Penn. He then left Juniata County and lived in a small log house, 14x15 feet, belonging to his father- in-law, and supported his family as best he conld, by doing all kinds of work he could find, much of it being wood-chop- ping and clearing land, for which he gen- erally received 50 cents a day. By this marriage he had one son, Eli L. Yoder, who now lives in Nebraska and has a family of seven children. Mrs. Yoder died October 12, 1851. In the fall of 1853 Mr. Yoder went to MeLean County, Ill., where his family relatives all lived. On his way home he stopped in Wayne County, Ohio, and on the 17th day of November, 1853, he was joined in mar- riage with a widow, Catherine Zook, daughter of Christian Schmucker. She had three sons, the oldest being about thirteen years of age. Of this marriage there were born one daughter, Veronica.
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and one son, Amos; the latter died when he was four years old. The daughter was married to M. P. Yoder, and is living on the homestead farm. Catherine Yoder, when married to Mr. Yoder. was living on the farm where she and Mr. Yoder now reside. The farm belonged to her three boys, she having a dower in it con- sidered worth $1,000.
After renting the farm for a few years from the guardian of the boys, Mr. Yoder sold a little property in Mifflin County, Penn., which he had gained mostly by days' work at 50 couts a day. for $1, 100, and with that sum as hand money he bought from the heirs' guardian the farm on which they yet live. He gave his at- tention to farming, in which he has so far been successful. his wife being industri- ons and economical, and doing her part in paying for the farm. They are now growing old, but can still, with ordinary health, enjoy the sweets of life. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder are highly respected by all who know them.
RED RIES was born in Saarbruck, Prussia, November 22, 1838, and is a son of Martin and Mary ( Cline) Ries, who came to America in 1847, and settled in Chippewa Township, Wayne
Co., Ohio, where the father worked as a coal miner for twelve years. In 1859 he purchased thirty-three acres of land in Chippewa Township, on which coal was found, and which was developed by the Silver Creek Mining Company. for whom he was the superintendent five years. He then removed to Knoxville, Tenn., where a company was formed for mining coal, for which he acted as superintend- ent three years. Ile then returned to Chippewa Township, Wayne County, re- tired From business, and he now resides in Doylestown. - His family consisted of eight children, viz .: Christopher, a hotel keeper in Clinton, Ohio; Fred, our sub- jeet; Hettie, now Mrs. Peter Cline; Will- imn N., a farmer of Chippewa Township, Wayne County: Henry, a coal miner in Medina County, Ohio; Martin (deceased ) ; George, a miner boss in Chippewa Town- ship, and Minnie, now Mrs. Webnan Cline.
Of these, Fred, whose name heads this memoir, was reared in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, from nine years of age, receiving a common-school education, and began life as a coal miner, which occupation he followed for twenty years. He was then appointed inside boss of the mines of the Wadsworth Coal Company, acting in that capacity for eight years, when he was appointed superintendent of the mines, a position
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he held until the mines were exhausted. In 1880 the Excelsior Coal Company was formed, of which Mr. Ries was a stock- holder, and he has been its efficient superintendent since its organization.
.Our subject married, December 5, 1861, Barbara Dichl, a native of Hesse-Darm- stadt. Germany, by whom he had four children: William P., superintendent of a coal mine at New Comerstown, Tusca- rawas Co., Ohio; Henry C., book-keeper for the Excelsior Coal Company; Elma, wife of J. W. Merkt, and Freddie, de- ceased. Mr. Ries is one of the sub- stantial citizens of Doylestown, of which he has been a resident since 1879. He is an attendant of the Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Odd Fellows order, Knights of Pythias and Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Democrat.
R USSELL E. KERR was born No- vember 30, 1838, in Wayne Com- ty, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Russell) Kerr, of Lancaster County, Pen., who came to Wayne County in 1833, and located in Canaan Township. They were prominent members of the Seceder Church of Woos- ter. The mother died in 1864. and the
father in 1869. They reared two sons, Cyrus, a resident of Chester County, Pen., and Russell E. The subject of this biography was reared on a farm, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1584. when he established his present coopering business at Creston, and four other places. where he is largely engaged in the man- nfacture of flour and apple barrels.
September 12, 1863, Mr. Kerr married Miss Mary J., daughter of Henry Lee, of Medina County, Ohio, and they have three children: Luella, wife of Charles Steele, of Medina County, Ohio; Eddie K., of Lodi, Ohio, and Vinnie May, at home. Mr. Kerr is one of the principal stockholders of the Creston Milling Com- pany. Politically he is a Democrat, and a member of the township board. He is an older in the Presbyterian Church, and one of the valued and enterprising citi- zens of Wayne County.
YOHN H. KAUKE, one of the oldest and best known natives of Wayne County, was born in Wooster Town- ship. December 15, 1817. His father, John Kauko, was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, whenee when a boy he emigrated to this country, locating in Pennsylvania, where in course of time he married Mary
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Bennett. Together they came, in about 1814, to Wayne County, Ohio, and here had seven children born to them, of whom five are still living, all of them residing in Wayne County. Both parents died many years ago.
Their son, John HI., of whom this memoir treats, received his education in the old school-house of the period, and served a two-years' apprenticeship to the ancient trade of brick-making, from the age of seven to nine years, following which he tried his hand at the printer's trade for a short time. From nine to eleven, in connection with his brother Henry ( now deceased ), he ran an ox team or cart, and worked by the day as they could get it, receiving 25 cents or a bushel of corn for a day's work; cut and ranked cord-wood, at 25 cents per cord, on the grounds now occupied and used by the county fair. At the age of eleven he struck a job with John Walters, assisting Mrs. Walters in the manufacture of her famous hop beer, gingerbread and pies, which were dealt to the natives by Mr. Walters in a small frame building on the southeast corner of the public square, after which Mr. Walters opened a tavern in a frame building then standing on the lot now owned by John Zimmerman, on which he erected the three-story block now occupied by him. The tavern was known by the name of Swan, Mr. Walters
having hung out that bird for a sign. Mr. Kauke remained with him during his twelfth year. While in the employ of Mr. Walters it was the custom of Mrs. Walters to attend public sales in the country and camp-meetings, keeping a boarding table, Mr. Kauke being princi- pal help. At the age of thirteen he was employed by James Jacobs, who kept a general store, as a boy or hand good for all work. At the age of fifteen he had general oversight of the work in the store; at the age of seventeen took charge of and kept the books; at theage of nineteen was sent to New York to purchase a stock of goods for Mr. Jacobs, and at the age of twenty-one was given an interest in the business, and continued in the general trade until 18-13, when they disposed of the dry goods stock, and went exclusively in the general hardware trade. In 1818 he bought ont his partner, James Jacobs, and continned in the trade nutil 1865, in the meantime having built the iron block adjoining the court-house on the west.
He was also engaged in banking in connection with his commercial interests, first, from 1854 to 1862, with Sturges, Stibbs & Co., and then with Stibbs, Han- na & Co. to 1876, and Kauke & Frost un- til 1883, when the bank was closed and settled up. He was also interested with Col. W. K. Boone, in Lima, Ohio, in the
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hardware trade, from 1868 to 1883, and since 1856 he has had a similar business in Van Wert, Ohio. Since its inception Mr. Kauke has been interested in the Gas Works of Wooster; was one of the principal inaugurators of the Wooster Gas Light Company, of which he is and has been for about fifteen years president. He served the city of Wooster faithfully in the council, also as mayor. While a member of the Board of Education he was instrumental in securing the site of the present high school building. He was one of the largest contributors toward the establishment of Wooster University, and was the first to endow a a professorship ( natural science), in the sum of $25,000, that bears his name, and has been one of the trustees of the uni- versity since its commencement. Mr. Kauke has been identified with all the enterprises and improvements of Wooster; acted as trustee of the Wooster Cemetery Association for a number of years, being one of the original purchasers of the cometery grounds.
At the present time he is making a strong effort to complete the north and south railroad, known as the Killbuck Valley, chartered name, Lake Erie, Woos- ter & Muskingum Valley Railroad Com- pany. The track is graded From Woos- ter to Burbank, bridges built, and ties on the ground. The company was chartered
in 1882. Mr. Kauko is president, and Feels confident the cars will run on it in- side of twelve months.
In 1841 Mr. Kauke was married to Elizabeth Himmelrich, a native of Union County, Penn., coming to Wooster in her childhood. They have had seven children, three of whom are living, as follows: Cary W. Kauke, Flora E. Clemmens and Emma Jane Jackson. The parents are both members of the Presbyterian Church. In polities Mr. Kauke is a Republican.
A M. PARRISH, proprietor Archer House, Wooster, Ohio.
YOUN S. CASKEY. This well- known citizen of Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, was born in Westmore- land County, Pen., August 27, 1831. His father, Robert Caskey, was likewise a native of the Keystone State, but was roared in Ohio. When a young man he returned to Pennsylvania, and there grew to maturity. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and was married to Miss Nancy McClarran. Two children were born of this nion, John S. and Samnel, and our
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subject is the sole survivor, the younger brother dying Jannary 12, 1867. In 1852 the father came to Wayne County, Ohio, bringing his family with him, and here he and his wife both died, the latter February 10, 1862, and the former April 13, 1866.
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